Cervical cancer library

Advocacy, policy, and financing

Featured resources

10 Key Findings and Recommendations for Effective Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment Programs (2007)
Alliance for Cervical Cancer Prevention (ACCP)
In early 2007, the ACCP partners met to assess newly-analyzed results of key studies in India, South Africa, Peru, and Thailand. These new data spurred the partners to outline ten key findings and recommendations for global policy and practice related to cervical cancer screening and treatment in low-resource settings.

Cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV), and HPV vaccines: Key points for policy-makers and health professionals
World Health Organization (WHO), PATH, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
This booklet summarizes and updates the World Health Organization document “Human papillomavirus and HPV vaccine: technical information for policy-makers and health professionals” and the WHO/UNFPA guidance note “Preparing for the introduction of HPV vaccines—policy and programme guidance for countries.”

Declaration in favor of comprehensive cervical cancer prevention and control signed by 21 countries of the Americas (2008)
Pan American Health Organization
The Pan American Health Organization organized a meeting of member states in Mexico City in May 2008. Representatives of 21 participating countries drafted and endorsed this declaration.

HPV Vaccine Adoption in Developing Countries: Cost and Financing Issues (2007)
International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, PATH
This 40-page publication addresses issues related to financing the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and mobilizing resources to support new delivery mechanisms, which will constitute some of the most significant challenges to achieving widespread HPV vaccination in the developing world. With these cost and financing obstacles resolved, developing countries would be able to build robust programs to immunize adolescents and thus dramatically reduce the incidence of cervical cancer.

Human papillomavirus and HPV vaccine: technical information for policy-makers and health professionals (2007)
WHO, UNFPA
This document provides key information on HPV, HPV-related diseases and HPV vaccines, and is intended to underpin the guidance note on HPV vaccine introduction, recently produced by WHO and the United Nations Population Fund.

Outlook. Preventing cervical cancer: Unprecedented opportunities for improving women's health
Castilaw D, Wittet S. Outlook. 2007;23(1). PATH.
This 12-page issue of Outlook provides the latest evidence-based information about cervical cancer prevention. It summarizes key issues related to HPV transmission, new HPV vaccines, and strategies for introduction in low-resource countries. This issue also identifies new methods for early detection and treatment of cervical cancer.

Preparing for the introduction of HPV vaccines: policy and programme guidance for countries (2006)
WHO and UNFPA
This 25-page publication is based on a UNFPA/WHO Technical Consultation on HPV Vaccines and Sexual and Reproductive Health Programs, held in March 2006 in Montreux, Switzerland. It is intended to alert a broad array of stakeholders—in sexual and reproductive health, immunization, child and adolescent health, and cancer control programs—to some of the key issues surrounding the upcoming introduction of HPV vaccines against cervical cancer.

General advocacy, policy, and financing resources

A Long and Winding Road: Getting the HPV Vaccine to Women in the Developing World (2007)
Cohen, SA. Guttmacher Policy Review. 2007;10(3):15–19.
This five-page article outlines key issues affecting HPV vaccine accessibity for women in developing countries.

Stop Cervical Cancer: Accelerating Global Access to HPV Vaccines (2006)
These background papers were prepared for the Stop Cervical Cancer conference in London on December 12–13, 2007.

The Case for Investing in Cervical Cancer Prevention (2004)
Cervical Cancer Prevention Issues in Depth No. 3. ACCP.
This 35-page publication provides evidence on the burden of disease and the importance of women’s roles in family and community life to refute the assumptions that underlie the lack of access to cervical cancer prevention services in many developing countries. It also reviews new approaches to cervical cancer prevention in low-resource settings and provides data on cost-effectiveness. This was written before HPV vaccines became available in 2006.

The Emerging Adolescent Agenda: HPV Vaccine, AIDS Prevention Research, and the New Opportunities for Reaching the Young People of the World (2006)
AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition
This chapter explores why licensure of the vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) presents the AIDS vaccine field with new opportunities.

Education, training, and communication for HPV vaccines (2006)
Sherris J, Friedman A, Wittet S, Davies P, Steben M, Saraiya M. Vaccine. 24(S3):S210–S218.
As HPV vaccines come to market, they will face education and training challenges similar to those of other new vaccines, along with HPV-specific issues. Pharmaceutical companies, public health advocates, medical trainers, and health educators need to understand their diverse audiences and respond appropriately to the needs of each. They also must use research-based communication strategies to convey the need for an HPV vaccine and to manage expectations about how the vaccine can, and cannot, protect women and men.

HPV vaccine use in the developing world (2006)
Kane M, Sherris J, Coursaget P, Aguado T, Cutts F. Vaccine. 24(S3):S132–S139.
HPV vaccine should be introduced in the framework of comprehensive cervical cancer control, and offers an opportunity to bring together a wide range of constituents who have not worked closely on vaccination. To prepare for decisions on HPV vaccine use, the sexual and reproductive health (including adolescent health), immunization, and cancer control communities need to work together to analyze the appropriate data and build international and national consensus.

Preventing Cervical Cancer Worldwide (2004)
Population Reference Bureau and ACCP
This 24-page report highlights the major findings, lessons, and recommendations from ACCP’s research and demonstration projects. ACCP has assessed and promoted prevention approaches that are inexpensive, safe, and widely acceptable. A four-page policy brief is also available. These reports were written before HPV vaccines became available in 2006.

UNIFEM conference background papers (2007)
United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
These three articles were written in conjunction with the UNIFEM conference in Brussels on September 27–28, 2007, "Fight against cervical cancer: challenges and opportunities for women’s right to health."

WHO: working to ensure global quality, safety and standards in immunization
WHO
This 20-page document outlines WHO's work in the development of regulatory capacity to ensure the safety, quality and quality and efficacy of vaccines in developing countries.